Professional truck drivers once depended on large, foldable paper maps and road atlases to navigate from point A to point B. Going back isn’t an option.

Conveniently, today’s drivers use navigation apps, but only a few of them are built to safely guide 18-wheelers on highways, city streets, and in complex delivery zones. Safety is top priority, but convenience is also crucial. Drivers don’t want to manage messaging, hours of service, paperwork, and workflows in one system, only to re-enter trip details into a different navigation app.
For fleets, having a fragmented setup causes bigger issues: limited visibility, inconsistent routing, and higher costs due to disconnected tools and data.

For these reasons, Eleos embeds HERE-powered navigation in its custom driver app platform. This partnership gives fleets an easy-to-implement, secure, driver-friendly navigation system tailored to their operations, eliminating the need for standalone navigation tools.
This difference is essential when assessing mobility options. The following seven reasons explain why more fleets are using driver apps that integrate custom workflows with navigation.

1. Navigation Should Be Part of the Driver’s Workflow

With the Eleos custom app platform, drivers avoid switching between apps, copying addresses, or manually launching third-party navigation tools. Trip planning, turn-by-turn directions, and delivery confirmations all occur within a single interface.

This reduces friction for drivers and eliminates unnecessary steps that can lead to distraction or errors.

2. Fleets Need Control Over Routing Decisions

Eleos chose HERE for its flexibility, reliability, and developer-level control. The HERE SDK enables deep routing integration within the Eleos platform, allowing fleets to customize navigation around their operational workflows.

Routes display load stops pulled directly from the TMS, reflect fleet-specific preferences, and give drivers flexibility to adapt to real-world conditions – without sacrificing fleet visibility.

3. Safer Routes Start Before the Trip Begins

Eleos routes automatically detect and alert drivers to risky maneuvers, such as sharp turns or dangerous intersections. By identifying these challenges before a trip starts, drivers can prepare or choose alternate routes.

At the same time, back-office teams gain insight into routing choices that may impact mileage, safety, or compliance.

4. Fleet-Level Controls Reduce Risk Across the Network

Eleos enables fleets to define Avoid Zones for reasons such as risky intersections, residential areas, or steep grades with known safety concerns. These zones can be tested before deployment and applied fleet-wide once approved.

Custom points of interest (POIs) further enhance control by embedding terminals, fueling locations, maintenance facilities, and customer docks directly into the navigation experience—complete with instructions and contact information.

5. One Routing Model Doesn’t Fit Every Fleet

Eleos supports two routing modes to match different operational needs.

• Standard Routing uses HERE’s truck-specific engine to calculate safe and efficient routes based on vehicle size, restrictions, and real-time traffic.
• Pluggable Routing gives fleet managers complete control by delivering predefined routes directly to drivers – supporting mileage-based billing, lane consistency, and coordinated operations.

6. Drivers Need Tools That Support Compliance

With Eleos, drivers can review their entire route before beginning a trip, including custom POIs, HOS predictions, and fleet-defined avoid zones.

When drivers need to make adjustments, they can easily add via points with a single tap, which immediately updates the route in both the driver app and the back-office view. In addition, when a route nears an HOS limit, Eleos visually highlights it to help drivers plan stops and avoid violations.

7. Visibility Matters as Much as Routing

Eleos offers fleets a Trip Planner Studio – a web-based portal that provides operations and safety teams with a visual timeline of each trip.

Teams can see where drivers added stops, deviated from routes, or made changes in response to alerts. Unlike basic breadcrumb tracking, Trip Planner Studio shows what drivers saw and decided during the trip, supporting safety reviews, compliance investigations, and billing verification.

Built-In Navigation, Built-In Value

For fleets, navigation isn’t just about directions. It’s about control, consistency, and confidence at scale. None of these can happen when navigation lives outside the core platform.

With HERE-powered truck routing in the Eleos platform, fleets receive navigation that matches their vehicles, routing strategies, and workflows – while providing drivers with clear, adaptable guidance on the road.

The integration delivers notable cost savings by removing per-driver fees for standalone navigation apps. Still, the larger impact comes from standardized routing, improved visibility into driver decisions, decreased safety risk, and a simpler technology stack.

The Truck Navigation Platform Built for Fleets

Generic navigation apps weren’t built for the realities of modern fleet operations. Fleets need tools that adapt to how they work, not the other way around.

Eleos offers a fleet-first navigation platform by integrating HERE’s top-rated truck routing with customizable workflows, fleet controls, and back-office visibility – all in one place.

See what this could mean for your operation. Schedule a personalized demo to explore how the Eleos platform with HERE navigation can reduce operational costs through better routing and visibility.

The post 7 Reasons Built-In Truck Navigation Outperforms Standalone Apps for Fleets appeared first on Eleos.

Driver workflow is the nucleus of trucking operations—holding everything together and shaping how the entire system functions. And like elements in the periodic table, every fleet needs its own unique composition.

But let’s leave the chemistry lesson there. If you’re still relying on generic “circle of service” workflows in your in-cab or mobile systems, chances are they don’t align with the real-world complexities of your load-stop activities.

The consequences are friction, wasted time, and reduced efficiency. Luckily, there is a solution. This article discusses how a custom mobile app platform makes it easy and affordable to provide drivers with vital information and features, without unnecessary clutter, at the right times and places throughout the load cycle.

The Hidden Cost of Poor Driver Workflows

Inefficiency in trucking often occurs in small increments. For example, a driver is unsure of his next step and calls dispatch or misplaces a bill of lading (BOL), causing billing delays. Across a fleet, moments like this could cost hundreds of dollars per driver every month.

The source of this dysfunction often arises due to in-cab and mobile driver apps with inflexible, vendor-defined workflows. The terminology, functions, and steps do not match a fleet’s unique requirements and driver preferences. When technology doesn’t adapt to your needs, it creates a patchwork of manual steps that can compound inefficiency and confusion.

Operating Without a Clear View

Disjointed workflows are more than an inconvenience. They collect and spread data haphazardly across your operations and back-office systems. Bottlenecks go unnoticed. Minor issues grow into bigger problems. Blind spots increase, and leadership is forced to make decisions with incomplete information.

A unified workflow, by contrast, brings everything together into one clear view for drivers and gives the office a complete record of what occurred and the next steps.

What Modern Workflow Optimization Looks Like

Uniquely, the Eleos custom mobile app platform allows fleets to build driver workflows that match every piece of information, instruction, function, and sequence to their exact requirements.

With a well-constructed workflow, fleets provide certainty for drivers, eliminating phone calls, texts, and manual record-keeping. The terminology and steps on their screens mirror how your fleet talks and operates, helping drivers act quickly and confidently.

As one example, suppose you want to use “Shipper” instead of “Pickup” as a label for loads. Similarly, you can name data fields and place them where drivers expect to see them, such as trailer numbers and POI details for stops. This flexibility helps transform the workflow into a helpful guide at every step.

From there, you can implement load- and customer-specific logic, reflecting the nuances of hazmat moving differently from flatbed loads; reefer loads requiring different checks than fuel hauling; and dedicated customers with their own expectations and documentation needs.

Eleos makes it easy to account for these differences. The impacts of custom workflows quickly become evident, as these examples show:

• Nebraska-based K&B Transportation deployed a custom workflow in Eleos that automates the validation, approval, and processing of driver lumper payment requests. The integrated system saves up to 20 minutes per load, getting drivers on the road faster by eliminating office phone calls to handle lumper payments.
• A flatbed fleet boosted compliance and reinforced a key customer relationship by integrating a steel-coil securement video in the loading workflow at the precise moment drivers need it.
• Tulsa, Okla.-based Melton Truck Lines reduced missing BOLs from 200 per week to just 20 after making real-time document scanning part of its driver workflow, rather than a separate task drivers had to remember in its previous system.

The same idea applies to tracking detention. With Eleos, fleets can add a button to a driver’s workflow that appears at the right time to help them accurately record detention events, thereby assisting in revenue recovery and removing delays that used to slip through the cracks.

When Workflows Actually Work

Custom workflows that mirror your customer and operational requirements simplify driver tasks, saving minutes at every stop. For a fleet of 500 trucks, saving five minutes per stop per driver equates to 10,000 hours of extra productivity annually.

Besides drivers saving time, dispatchers spend less time clarifying information and more time focusing on critical tasks like optimizing loads. Leadership also has greater visibility as systems are updated more frequently and accurately.

Don’t Let Inefficiency Become Your Default

Custom driver workflow doesn’t mean adding more screens or steps. It’s about simplifying the driver experience, removing friction, improving clarity, and making interactions smoother.

By contrast, fleets that rely on generic workflows will continue facing the same problems with processes that do not closely align with how their customers, drivers, and operations teams work.

With Eleos, fleets create workflows that exactly match how they operate, enabling them to adapt quickly to new customers, freight, or processes. Reach out now to see Eleos is action.

The post Why Custom Driver Workflows are the Hidden Advantage in Fleet Operations appeared first on Eleos.

Fixing a vehicle, remodeling a house, or driving a semi-truck — these are just a few jobs that demand specialized tools. If you’ve done any of them, you understand the importance of having a complete, well-organized toolbox.

Put simply, it helps you work effectively to do the job right and take pride in your achievements.

Now consider the opposite scenario. When essential tools are missing or disorganized, what occurs? Mistakes, wasted time, increased costs, frustration, and ultimately poor results.

Like any profession, truck drivers need the right tools to ensure safe, compliant, and error-free deliveries. Each load has specific requirements, including a carefully planned route or special documentation for arrivals and departures.

Instead of leaving drivers to handle these situations alone, fleets can provide all the essential digital tools through a single mobile app that helps drivers work more efficiently, accurately, and confidently.

Building a mobile ecosystem in-house can be complicated and expensive. Luckily, there’s an easier option: a flexible, web-based platform with pre-made components that you easily customize to meet your fleet’s specific needs.

Our custom mobile app platform helps fleets deliver a smooth, user-friendly digital experience that empowers drivers. Here are six specialized tools in this digital toolkit to offer an experience that drivers — and operations teams — won’t find anywhere else.

Custom Workflow: a digital copilot

A well-designed mobile workflow guides drivers through each step of their tasks — from pickup to delivery — on a single, user-friendly screen.

Instead of overwhelming drivers with too much data, the app presents information in a clear order. Drivers tap a button to navigate, another to arrive, and to scan delivery documents. Each step in the workflow is connected to real-time location data, ensuring every action happens at the right time and place.

The workflow mandates essential actions — such as document capture or data verification — to be completed before proceeding, ensuring compliance and operational consistency. Fleets can also include location-aware forms, real-time safety updates, and access to multimedia training modules.

The result: Drivers stay focused and efficient, systems update automatically, and managers gain complete visibility into every stage of the process.

Trip Planning: streamlined and smart

Trip planning used to involve multiple apps and plenty of guesswork. With Eleos, fleets can integrate with external systems to provide drivers with a structured trip-planning process that combines routing, HOS compliance, fuel optimization details, and weather awareness.

Drivers have real-time access to HOS data, live traffic, and weather updates. They can view routes on satellite maps, see precise ETAs, and make informed adjustments as conditions change. With integrated trip planning, drivers spend less time juggling apps — and more time delivering freight safely and on schedule.

Fleets can set up their apps to suggest preferred fuel stations based on cost, proximity, and HOS constraints, making sure schedules stay on track. By balancing independence with company policies, driver routes follow fleet guidelines, while dispatch has complete visibility into their progress and performance.

Action Requests: requiring a response

Message timing and acknowledgment are vital in trucking. Action Requests, one of Eleos’s most innovative tools, guarantees essential messages are never overlooked.

Action Requests are interactive prompts triggered by time or location that require a driver’s response before continuing. For example, Paul Transportation uses Action Requests to gather driver feedback about its shops. When drivers arrive, a brief survey automatically appears, capturing feedback that helps the fleet improve turnaround times and shop efficiency.

Fleets also use Action Requests for tasks such as:

• Appointment Changes: to confirm updated delivery times.
• Payroll Advances: to request and acknowledge the amounts.
• Weather Alerts: to require driver confirmation for safety compliance.
• Trailer Verification: to prevent mismatched or incorrect loads.

Each Action Request creates a traceable record of communication, turning updates into accountability — and keeping operations transparent and proactive.

Document Scanning: accelerating cash flow

Delivery receipts, BOLs, and inspection reports often sit in trucks for days, disrupting billing and payroll.

With integrated document scanning in the Eleos app, drivers can digitize and submit paperwork instantly at delivery. Real-time field validation ensures data accuracy, while automatic integration with accounting and payroll systems eliminates manual data entry.

For fleets, this means faster invoicing, cleaner data, and improved cash flow.
For drivers, it ensures timely pay and fewer administrative headaches.

Fleets that use the automated scanning consistently reduce administrative hours and shorten billing cycles.

Instant Messaging: clear communication

Communication enhances performance, but traditional ELD messaging can overwhelm drivers with noise and irrelevant updates. With Eleos, fleets establish structured, role-based messaging channels that provide clarity and relevance.

With these channels, fleet managers can send updates exclusively to specific roles, terminals, or driver groups—ensuring messages reach the right people at the right time. These messages can include safety videos, HR announcements, or policy updates, and support multiple languages.

This structured communication helps fleets reduce calls, prevent confusion, and build stronger relationships with drivers. The result is a connected, informed team that moves in sync.

App Manager: eliminate IT bottlenecks

The Eleos App Manager lets fleets quickly update workflows, forms, or messages without waiting for developers or IT support.

When a shipper updates requirements or new compliance rules are implemented, fleets can send updates directly to each driver’s device. This agility minimizes service failures, avoids compliance issues, and ensures smooth operations.

The ability to build, test, and deploy changes rapidly gives fleets a competitive advantage, enabling continuous improvement without the delays or costs of custom software development.

Building a Smarter Toolbox for the Road Ahead

When fleets consolidate all essential tools into a single mobile app, they can see clear improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and driver satisfaction. Instead of juggling multiple systems, fleets get a unified digital toolbox that’s easy to maintain and expand as their operational needs evolve.

In an industry built on precision, agility, and trust, having all the right tools in one place makes all the difference.

Ready to Build Your Digital Toolbox?

Empower your drivers, streamline your operations, and create a mobile experience that truly fits your fleet. Schedule a personalized demo to learn how we can help deliver a driver app that works the way your business does.

The post Build the Ultimate Digital Toolbox for Truck Drivers appeared first on Eleos.

Do you remember the last time you upgraded your phone? The experience involved opening a sleek package, a simple setup, and a feeling of amazement that all your contacts, apps, and data were transferred as if nothing had changed.

Within minutes, you felt at ease using the new device. Everything you needed was right there—simple, seamless, and familiar.

Imagine starting a new driving job. Instead of relying on disjointed and incomplete fleet communication systems, what if you had a single mobile app that guided you step-by-step through your workday, with all the necessary tools right at your fingertips?

This level of communication and support is what drivers crave but often don’t get, leading to inefficiencies, delays, costly errors, and high turnover.

Just as Apple and Android shape our expectations for interacting with technology, fleets can revolutionize how drivers perform their tasks, both inside and outside the cab. A custom app platform can unify all communication aspects, making the workday easier, reducing uncertainty, and building trust from the first login.

Why Communication is a Deal-Breaker

Consider why people stay loyal to their phone brands. It’s not about the hardware; it’s about the experience. Everything feels connected, predictable, and simple.

Drivers are no different. Repeatedly, the reasons they give for sticking with a fleet include culture, communication, and relationships with dispatch.

Results from a Drive My Way survey reveal that 60% of new-to-the-industry truck drivers (those with 1-2 years of experience) feel that more transparent communication and improved support from their employers would increase their workplace satisfaction and success. 

Why is communication so essential to job satisfaction? Think of turning on a phone without a setup guide, clear menus, or knowing where to find what you need. Drivers often start their jobs feeling confused instead of confident. This leads to stress and turnover, resulting in thousands of dollars lost every time the cycle repeats.

Giving Drivers a Single App

A custom driver app transforms the experience. Scrolling through messages for details and instructions—done. Switching between apps and websites to plan trips and complete tasks? Also finished. 

Instead, drivers use a single, unified app on their personal smartphones or in-cab systems with a central dashboard to access everything they need, including:

• • Load assignments and detailed step-by-step workflows
  • Turn-by-turn navigation with live ETAs, traffic, and weather updates.
  • Fuel stops in their companies’ networks.
  • Capture of proof-of-delivery and other documents.
  • Access to pay information and HR documents.
  • Multi-media for training.
  • And much more!

Drivers no longer wonder where to find what they need or who to call for answers. Everything is organized, familiar, and tailored to them. For fleets, this highly structured and tailored experience prevents communication breakdowns and service failures, while significantly boosting driver satisfaction.

Real-World Proof

Many innovative fleets are utilizing custom apps to enhance driver communication and are reaping the benefits. Below are three examples:

• • Fraley and Schilling, a diversified carrier with more than 650 trucks, headquartered in Rushville, Ind., has a self-dispatch system in its F&S Mobile app. When drivers arrive to pick up loads from a specific customer, they can select loads from a list based on availability. The selection instantly updates the assignment in the company’s TMS, ensuring billing accuracy while giving drivers more control.
  • U.S. Xpress incorporates site maps of customer facilities into its app, complete with ingress and egress instructions. Also, Spanish-speaking drivers can toggle the dashboard into their native language, preventing miscommunication and making the fleet more attractive to diverse recruits.
  • NAPA Transportation used its app to create a media library of training materials. Now drivers can watch equipment-use videos or review procedures from the road. This resource, among other features, helped cut turnover below 55%, saving the company more than $1 million annually in training costs.

Trip Planning, Messaging, and Training—Simplified

Drivers spend an average of 30 minutes daily on trip planning, switching between apps to check fuel prices, weather, and routes, according to a survey by Eleos. With an integrated trip planner, fleets that use custom apps report that drivers reduce this time by half when everything is in one place, allowing them to spend more time safely on the road and earn a higher income.

With custom apps, driver communication becomes more intelligent and targeted. Instead of having a single inbox for all messages, fleets can set up separate channels for different driver groups, such as independent contractors and company drivers. They can also send automated location-based messages, such as alerts for drivers in specific areas affected by severe weather.

When in motion, apps built on the Eleos platform are locked. However, urgent messages can still be delivered using text-to-speech for hands-free listening. Other unique features allow fleets to prompt drivers for real-time feedback through in-app surveys, helping gather valuable insights into customer facilities and delivery experiences.

Compliance and training also become part of the experience. Drivers can view and complete tasks in their “To-Do” checklists and access on-demand safety lessons or refresher videos about specific procedures, such as for load securement or equipment.

Another communication benefit is having performance dashboards that enable drivers to track key metrics, such as fuel efficiency, idle time, and safe driving behaviors, thereby promoting accountability and rewarding performance.

The ROI of Better Communication

When analyzing the economics of turnover, the significance of smooth communication becomes evident. For a fleet of 250 trucks, reducing turnover by just 20% — keeping 50 drivers instead of replacing them at an average cost of $8,000 each — saves $415,000 annually.

Custom apps aren’t just a nice addition; they are a crucial part of a business efficiency strategy. Just as consumers stay loyal to tech brands because of a curated and consistent experience, drivers are more likely to remain with fleets that communicate clearly, anticipate their needs, and make their work easier.

From onboarding to daily operations, fleets that meet drivers’ needs will operate more efficiently, experience lower turnover, and build stronger relationships with their most valuable asset. After all, driver communication shouldn’t feel like a puzzle. It should feel as seamless and straightforward as turning on your new phone.

Are you ready to elevate the driver experience? Discover how a custom mobile app can reduce turnover, cut costs, and keep you moving forward.

The post How to Make Driver Communication as Seamless as Your Last Phone Upgrade appeared first on Eleos.

Yet, in today’s challenging freight market, many shippers are causing arrhythmias by extending payment terms from 30 to 45, 60, or even 90 days from the invoice date.

To restore financial stability, carriers must eliminate billing delays and errors that clog their invoicing process. This means accurately capturing arrival and departure times, proof of delivery (POD), and accessorial charges at the point of delivery, without exception.

That’s precisely what Fraley and Schilling, a Rushville, Indiana-based carrier with more than 650 power units, did by using a custom mobile app built on the Eleos platform. The result? Faster invoicing, fewer disputes, and dramatically improved days sales outstanding (DSO).

Enforcing Document Capture at Delivery

Before implementing Eleos, Fraley and Schilling used a standalone document scanning app, which it later replaced with an integrated scanning feature in an ELD platform. Neither solution offered what they required: enforcement.

Drivers could bypass critical steps, such as scanning the bill of lading (BOL), leaving the back office scrambling to track down paperwork days later, explains Nicky Cupp, Director of Continuous Improvement at Fraley and Schilling.

With Eleos, the process is locked down. The fleet utilizes a custom workflow that prevents drivers from proceeding to the next load until they have submitted the necessary documents for their current assignment.

“When the driver arrives, whether it’s a pickup or a drop, it doesn’t matter. Whatever task I want them to complete is in front of them, and they can’t continue to the next step on their load until they complete it,” she says.

From Seven Days to Same-day Billing

Soon after rolling out the custom app, Fraley and Schilling acquired KBT Enterprises, a pneumatic bulk tank carrier, in January 2021. KBT had extensive expertise in hauling dry bulk materials but operated using paper processes.

Many of its loads entered the billing queue a week after being delivered. “Drivers brought paperwork into the office at the end of the week, and the invoicing process wouldn’t even start until the following Monday or Tuesday,” Cupp recalls. “With the Eleos driver app, we were able to reduce the billing time from one week to hours.”

With the custom app, as soon as drivers scan a document, it is added to the billing queue. What’s more, many of Fraley and Schilling’s customers are connected via EDI. When shipments arrive and depart, the fleet’s app instantly updates load statuses in its TMS, enabling faster communication with customers and immediate invoicing upon delivery, resulting in fewer disputes.

“You don’t have to second-guess whether the load has been closed out. Once the paperwork is in our queue, we process the invoice, and the remaining steps are automated,” Cupp explains.

Raising the Bar on Quality

Today, more than 99% of Fraley and Schilling drivers scan their paperwork at the point of delivery, a significant leap in both compliance and speed. Besides improving DSO, the fleet has seen a dramatic quality improvement.

If a scanned image is blurry or missing pages, billing clerks can assign a To-Do task directly from the accounting system, which is then forwarded to the driver app. The To-Do task remains visible until the driver resubmits a clear and complete document or the invoice is finalized.

The scanning technology of Eleos also resolves issues that were previously caused by low-resolution shipper documents.

“Some shippers still use Dot Matrix printers, and before Eleos, you couldn’t even read the BOL. Now, with the image processing behind the scenes, it’s easier to read than the physical copy,” Cupp says.

Savings from Consolidation

The switch to Eleos also enabled Fraley and Schilling to consolidate their tech stack, eliminating the need for third-party scanning tools and avoiding add-on licensing costs associated with other platforms.

The fleet’s custom app provides drivers with a single interface that contains all the tools they need to perform their jobs successfully. With the Eleos platform, everything, from hours-of-service visibility, trip planning, load status updates, document capture, messaging, and more, is available in an intuitive dashboard.

Accelerating Driver Pay

Mobile document capture benefits more than the back office. Drivers can view completed loads, estimate upcoming pay, and respond quickly if paperwork is missing. This boosts job satisfaction and retention.

“Drivers want to get paid as quickly as possible. The best way to make that happen is for them to submit their paperwork on time—and now, they do,” Cupp says.

Take Control of Your Cash Flow

Fraley and Schilling’s custom driver app is a success story in maximizing efficiency and driver satisfaction while accelerating cash flow when it matters most. During a challenging freight market, the company has drastically improved DSO by enforcing document submission at the point of delivery and automating workflows.

Are you still waiting days—or weeks—to invoice a load? It’s time to take control of your cash flow and eliminate whatever else is holding you back.

See How Eleos Can Help Your Fleet Bill Faster and Improve Document Scanning Workflows

The post How Fraley and Schilling is Boosting Cash Flow with Document Scanning & Custom Workflows appeared first on Eleos.

In the transportation industry, innovation isn’t just a luxury; it’s essential for driving efficiency. Successful fleets are those that turn ideas into reality, especially in times like the present, when freight volumes and margins are shrinking.

The word “innovation” often evokes images of risky ventures or moonshot projects, but the reality is more practical. It’s frequently manifested when people find ways to utilize technology in new and creative ways to accomplish tasks more efficiently.

For many carriers, this could mean adding more intelligence and automation to daily tasks and workflows, streamlining communications, and empowering people to keep freight moving.

One of the most powerful innovation platforms available today comes from Eleos Technologies, which enables trucking companies to build custom mobile apps tailored to their operations. Since 2021, Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) has recognized seven fleets (four in the past year) as Innovators for their creative ways of utilizing Eleos to address high-stakes business challenges. One fleet (USAT Capacity Solutions) even earned the prestigious CCJ Innovator of the Year award.

Custom mobile apps aren’t about flashy features but measurable results. Let’s explore how these seven fleets quickly achieved success by designing mobile solutions tailored to their most challenging operational needs.

Montgomery Transport

April 2021

Validating load securement

Birmingham, Alabama-based Montgomery Transport launched its “M1 Mobile App” to simplify document capture and reduce billing delays. The app quickly evolved into a securement verification tool that prompts drivers to upload photos at pickup, which its safety staff reviews before departure.

This proactive approach decreased claims, avoided out-of-service violations, and enhanced driver coaching. By integrating KPIs, training videos, and e-BOL processing, the 600-truck flatbed fleet continues to improve safety and performance while streamlining workflows.

USAT Capacity Solutions

August 2021 — Innovator of the Year 2021

Empowering drivers through self-dispatch

Van Buren, Arkansas-based USAT Capacity Solutions earned the Innovator of the Year award by putting dispatch control directly into the hands of drivers. Its Drive Your Plan initiative leverages a proprietary load board within its Eleos-powered app, allowing drivers to self-dispatch.

The result? A 50% drop in turnover and a 30% rise in productivity. By offering genuine autonomy, the program has also encouraged more drivers to transition to owner-operators, creating new paths for career growth.

Solar Transport

March 2023

Preventing fuel loading/unloading mistakes

Des Moines-based Solar Transport, with 220 drivers and 120 trucks, addressed the costly issue of fuel cross-drops by integrating critical loading and unloading workflows into its driver app. The app prompts drivers to confirm product types before departure and provides tank maps, hazard warnings, and site-specific instructions for deliveries.

This operational safeguard led to a 52% reduction in cross-drops and a 32% decrease in driver turnover. The result is a safer, more intuitive, error-free delivery experience with clear ROI.

Fraley & Schilling

August 2024

Fixing after-hours chaos with self-dispatch

When drivers at Indiana-based Fraley and Schilling faced confusion finding available loads at a customer’s facility after hours, the fleet responded by building a self-dispatch system into its mobile app.

Drivers choose available loads from a list in the app, which then instantly updates its TMS. This change decreased friction between drivers and dispatch, reduced paperwork errors, and prevented billing issues caused by mismatches.

With more than 650 power units, the carrier now has an agile and accountable dispatch model that empowers drivers to select their loads.

NAPA Transportation

January 2025

Turning compliance from a chore into a habit

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania-based truckload carrier NAPA Transportation discovered that up to 75% of its drivers were not verifying their logbooks, despite training. The fleet’s custom app platform from Eleos made it easy to implement an “if this, then that” solution.

If a driver doesn’t verify their logbook within the past 48 hours, their next load assignment is removed from their mobile app. It reappears when drivers verify their logs. By adding this step to the workflow, the log verification rate for drivers increased from 25% to over 93%, almost overnight.

K&B Transportation

February 2025

Protecting drivers with real-time weather alerts

South Sioux City, Nebraska-based K&B Transportation, a refrigerated carrier with over 700 trucks, integrated a custom weather alert system into its Eleos app to warn drivers of hazardous conditions.

Using GPS and geofencing, the system sends alerts directly to the driver’s screen, complete with voice-read functionality, to make sure they don’t miss critical updates. The fleet’s new process is credited with an 80% decrease in DOT-recordable accidents year-over-year.

Knight-Swift Transportation

August 2025

Driver onboarding with real-world simulation

Knight-Swift, the largest truckload carrier in North America, redesigned its driver orientation training with its Eleos-based KT Mobile app. Instead of passively watching training videos, new drivers complete a simulated load from start to finish on a tablet, mirroring real-world conditions.

This practical training ensures drivers for the Phoenix-based company are confident using the app before hitting the road. The accuracy of digital workflow completion by drivers trained by the new approach increased by 12% in just eight weeks, helping increase efficiency and improve new-driver satisfaction.

Innovation without the risk

Each of these seven fleets demonstrates that innovation doesn’t mean taking risks. By putting their ideas into motion through Eleos, they turned daily operational challenges into performance improvements.

Innovation is more than just a technology upgrade when it delivers immediate ROI by empowering drivers, enhancing safety, increasing transparency, and reducing costs.

With a flexible custom driver app, the possibilities for innovation are virtually endless.

Contact us today to bring your ideas to life

The post Efficiency in Action: 7 Ways Innovative Fleets Use Custom Apps appeared first on Eleos.

What gives successful trucking fleets their competitive advantage? Technological innovation leads the way. Still, maintaining an edge in this high-risk, low-margin industry is challenging, especially during economic uncertainty.

The goal is to scale a capital-intensive business. Many technology suppliers assert their products can do this, but the history of in-cab mobile computing and communications indicates otherwise.

Many fleets are taking control of their mobile technology by replacing rigid in-cab systems with more flexible and adaptable platforms that enable them to bypass vendor product timetables and advance rapidly.

A custom app platform is one way fleets quickly create and implement new features, functions, and system integrations without delay or with the burdens and complexities of in-house software development.

The limitations of one-size-fits-all

Fleet mobility vendors have historically competed as single-source providers of in-cab computing, communications, and software. Despite offering hardware display options, many vendors corral fleet customers into a proprietary suite of electronic logging devices (ELDs), mobile apps, truck and trailer telematics, and driver and vehicle safety systems.

This centralized model strategy limits speed and innovation in your attempts to enhance the driver experience and address specific business needs. For instance, vendors that develop products for a broad industry sector, such as truckload, may overlook particular use cases for dedicated operations and fleets with other unique requirements.

Fleets often struggle to deploy new features, functions, and workflows that address their evolving business needs using mobile platforms built for the masses.

A transformation story

Like many others, one of North America’s largest transportation and logistics companies used a conventional in-cab system connected to the vehicles’ Electronic Control Module (ECM) and hardwired, dash-mounted displays. The system was limited and did not provide options for out-of-cab mobility or custom driver workflows.

The post How fleets use custom apps to take control and drive innovation appeared first on Eleos.

Uncertainty fuels stress in every profession, but trucking ignites it. Professional drivers must contend with unpredictable traffic, variable weather, and delays. Additionally, they often lack crucial job-related information, impacting their efficiency and job satisfaction.

The impact of driver stress

According to CCJ‘s 2024 “What Drivers Want” report, 62% of truck drivers rated their stress levels as five or higher on a ten-point scale. Sixty-eight percent of drivers indicated that work-related stress adversely affects their performance, based on a 2025 report by Geotab, and 78% believe that stress and mental health issues contribute to road dangers.

Truckload fleets using custom mobile apps dramatically improve the driver experience. The technology replaces stress and uncertainty with structured workflows, delivering clarity and confidence at every stage of a load’s lifecycle.

The power of custom mobile apps

Truck driving appeals to those who value autonomy, but unpredictable factors push many away. A well-designed custom mobile app can restore control and boost driver retention through essential tools, such as:

Load selection and self-dispatch: Drivers can choose pre-selected loads matching their fleets’ operational criteria, giving them greater control over work schedules.

Load cards: A dashboard provides complete visibility into load details, including route instructions and facility maps for loading and unloading.

Integrated workflows: Automatic system updates reduce dispatch dependency, allowing drivers to focus on task completion.

With a clear and organized process for each load, drivers can access everything they need to do their jobs successfully from a unified interface inside and outside the cab.

Hirschbach, which operates over 3,000 trucks and has 4,000 drivers, utilizes a custom mobile app that enables the Dubuque, Iowa-based fleet’s drivers to self-manage everything from scanning paperwork to reviewing earnings. This reduces their reliance on multiple apps, websites, or phone calls.

“The comprehensive feature set—including ToDos, integrated navigation, and company NewsFeeds—gives drivers all essential tools in one platform,” said Jeff Nemmers, former Data Engineer, Hirschbach.

Optimized trip planning

Trip planning can take 30 minutes or more, often requiring multiple apps. Custom fleet apps streamline this process, reducing drivers’ planning time to 15 minutes or less by integrating:

Real-time weather alerts: Drivers receive continuous updates on weather conditions and severe weather warnings.

Point-to-point navigation: Intelligent routing systems consider traffic, construction, and vehicle-specific restrictions.

Custom points of interest: Drivers can select truck stops, public rest areas, and maintenance facilities within company guidelines.

Advanced features like satellite imagery and facility street views help drivers assess stop locations before arrival, reducing last-minute confusion. Additionally, fleet apps can alert drivers about challenging entry points and suggest alternative routing options.

Fleets can also give drivers more control by allowing them to customize their routes within accepted parameters, such as adding personal stops or rest breaks within out-of-route mileage allowances.

Step-by-step task management

Every load has unique requirements. Custom apps provide structured workflows that prevent misunderstandings and ensure timely execution.

Melton Truck Lines, one of the nation’s largest flatbed carriers with more than 1,400 power units, built a mobile driver app that provides step-by-step instructions, ensuring drivers receive precise information promptly to manage:

High-priority loads: Custom workflows emphasize timely communication for VIP customer shipments, helping to maintain relationships and improve driver satisfaction.

Accountability: Drivers confirm load-based instructions and submit proof of task completion, such as load securement photos.

“We remove the guessing game, which reduces driver stress,” said Dustin Dennis, Director of Operations at Melton Truck Lines.

Ryder Systems, Inc. is a fully integrated logistics and transportation company that serves some of the world’s top consumer food and beverage brands in the U.S. The Miami, Fla.-based company uses its custom app to meet the diverse delivery requirements of thousands of drivers and hundreds of customers. Ryder has developed 23 distinct workflows that significantly reduce mistakes and improve customer service by helping drivers complete tasks efficiently and confidently.

“[Our app] is only limited by your imagination. What do you want it to do?” said Bobby Rogers, Ryder’s application development lead.

Control and customization

Custom apps enable fleets to implement driver feedback quickly. Rather than waiting for changes from a vendor-controlled system, fleets can regularly update their app based on driver input, fostering a sense of ownership.

Hirschbach, for instance, is actively working with drivers on app development. The company’s Driver Ambassadors committee shapes mobile technology advancements by offering ideas and feedback for the rollout of new features, information, and processes that enhance the work experience.

Prime, Inc., one of the nation’s top freight transport and logistics companies, utilizes its app editor feature that allows non-technical team members to make real-time updates without developer assistance.

“I can rearrange fields, update colors, add buttons, and target information to specific drivers—all without using developer time,” says Brianne Madura, Assistant Director of IT for the Springfield, Mo.-based fleet. “We take [driver] feedback and turn it into an actionable item.”

Enhancing safety through technology

Uncertainty contributes to distracted driving and safety risks, such as when drivers are lost or encounter unexpected weather events.

Custom apps offer many practical tools for improving safety. K&B Transportation, a top food transporter with over 2,000 assets, has a unique alert system that ensures drivers are prepared when weather events hit along their route. The system uses:

Real-time weather alerts: K&B Transportation’s app provides automated weather notifications, reducing accident risks.

Geofencing-based alerts: Weather safety protocols are set by location, ensuring compliance in high-risk zones. When a truck enters a designated area, the app triggers specific alerts. The alerts can be set to take over the dashboard and drivers’ load cards to enforce acknowledgement and action during severe weather events.

Read-aloud notifications: Critical information is delivered hands-free, minimizing distractions.

After implementing these features in 2023, South Sioux City, Neb.-based K&B saw an 80% reduction in DOT recordable accidents.

“Drivers appreciate that we’re keeping them in the loop and prioritizing their safety,” said Matt Fengler, Operations Supervisor

Financial transparency and performance tracking

Pay uncertainty is a primary concern for truck drivers. Many fleets use custom apps to give drivers real-time access to their earnings and performance metrics. This ensures drivers have pay information at their fingertips while significantly reducing calls to HQ.

Some fleets also use app features to “gamify” the metrics to encourage improvement.

US Xpress, one of the largest truckload carriers in North America, exemplifies this approach with driver-facing performance cards that display key metrics like fuel consumption, idle percentage, and safe driving statistics. The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based fleet’s detailed visualizations help drivers track their progress and maximize their earning potential through bonus programs.

On-demand training and development

Custom fleet apps serve as learning platforms, offering on-demand training for tasks like load securement and equipment operation. Media libraries and integration with learning management systems make it easy for drivers to access training resources.

For example, drivers at US Xpress can access videos and learning modules directly through their app’s dashboard.

A related benefit of custom fleet apps is that they require minimal training. This made it easy for TMC Transportation, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, to transition to a new telematics system without disruption.

When changing its ELD telematics platform, TMC Transportation, the nation’s largest privately owned flatbed carrier, maintained operational continuity through a custom app that consistently presents data to drivers.

Measurable business impact

Investing in custom mobile apps transforms daily uncertainties into structured, predictable workflows that elevate the driver experience.

Fleets can offer a more efficient, safer, and friendly work environment by making essential tools and information accessible to drivers. With custom apps, fleets can seamlessly integrate with existing systems to gather load information and documents to speed up invoicing, payroll, and other processes.

The benefits are equally distributed in the office and on the front lines.

See Eleos in Action

Originally posted on CCJ.

The post Remove Stress, Gain Control: How Trucking Fleets Use Custom Apps to Empower Drivers appeared first on Eleos.

Like a buffet à la carte, fleet ELD and mobility providers strive to cater to diverse customer needs. In addition to ELDs, most provide telematics, driver performance monitoring, safety systems, and integrations with third-party applications, such as weigh station bypass tools and driver training platforms.

Despite a smorgasbord of features, ELD-based platforms often leave a critical gap: they lack a seamless, unified interface that enables drivers to complete all work-related tasks, both inside and outside the cab. Consequently, fleets struggle to maintain cohesive workflows that maximize driver productivity and minimize distractions.

Like all professionals, drivers perform at their best when they have instant access to everything they need to do their jobs through a single, unified interface. A custom mobile driver app enables fleets to maintain the critical functions of in-cab platforms while providing drivers the necessary information, workflows, and tools at every step.

This article examines how fleets utilize Eleos’ custom mobile app platform to address challenges they could not resolve with traditional ELD telematics systems.

The Power of a Unified Driver Experience

When limited to an ELD device, drivers log in to update duty status, but then open a separate navigation app for routing, and switch to another app for scanning documents or communicating with dispatch. This fragmented experience wastes time and invites confusion, errors, and frustration.

Eleos addresses this challenge by offering a custom mobile app platform that works across Android and Apple devices. Instead of siloed apps, drivers have a single, intuitive dashboard that provides access to all the tools they need in one place. The dynamic workflows and personalized “To-Do” lists guide drivers through their daily tasks with clarity and efficiency, ensuring a seamless experience.

For example, once a load assignment comes in, drivers can begin planning their trip using integrated hours-of-service data, real-time traffic and weather updates, satellite maps, and recommended fuel stops. Fleets even have the flexibility to allow drivers limited route customization, empowering them to add personal stops or adjust rest breaks without straying too far from company policies.

In short, Eleos eliminates the cognitive overload of switching between apps, allowing drivers to focus on what matters most: delivering safely, efficiently, and on time.

Solving Real-World Challenges with Custom Mobile Apps

Across the transportation industry, forward-thinking fleets are utilizing custom mobile apps to address operational challenges that traditional ELD systems cannot adequately handle.

Take, for example, a bulk tanker fleet that frequently delivers construction materials to job sites without formal street addresses. Relying on generic GPS apps often led to delays and missed deliveries. By implementing a custom mobile solution with truck-specific navigation, the fleet now ensures that drivers reach precise locations efficiently and without confusion.

In another case, a fleet handling “milk run” deliveries, where drivers have multiple pickups and drop-offs throughout the day, struggled with its ELD system, which grouped all stops on its routes. Drivers had to manually track each arrival and departure, resulting in errors and incomplete reporting.

With Eleos, this fleet now automates the process. The app records accurate timestamps for every stop, providing clear visibility and enhancing operational reporting.

Driver safety is another area where custom apps provide a distinct advantage. Another fleet, concerned about drivers interacting with in-cab systems while in motion, turned to Eleos. The customized platform integrates directly with their ELD system, enforcing automatic lockdowns of distracting features when the vehicle is in motion.

This proactive approach has strengthened the fleet’s safety culture while reducing compliance risks.

Tailored Workflows for Every Customer

One of the most transformative aspects of a custom mobile app is its ability to adapt workflows to meet the unique requirements of both fleets and customers. Instead of forcing drivers into rigid, one-size-fits-all procedures, fleets can design dynamic workflows that adjust to specific job parameters.

With a custom mobile app, fleets can deploy workflows tailored to their unique fleet and customer requirements. For example, a fleet that hauls bulk commodities for domestic and international customers needed a way to display weight measurements in pounds, tons, or kilograms, depending on the documentation at each pickup location.

The fleet utilized the Eleos platform to develop a flexible workflow that automatically tailors the forms presented to drivers based on each customer’s preferences, thereby eliminating confusion and ensuring accurate data capture.

The same fleet used the platform to improve service for a customer with silo deliveries. Drivers are prompted within the app to input silo readings upon delivery. This enables the fleet to proactively schedule future shipments when levels are low, transforming a basic delivery into a value-added service.

In both examples, the custom mobile app enforces critical steps, such as data entry or document capture, before drivers can proceed to the next assignment. This safeguards operational controls, ensuring that vital information does not slip through the cracks.

Improving the Driver Experience

Imagine being a driver navigating multiple deliveries each day, each with different requirements, in unfamiliar territory, and under tight deadlines. Without the right tools, the job can feel overwhelming. But with a custom mobile app like Eleos, the uncertainty disappears.

Drivers have verified GPS routing at their fingertips, complete destination details, and sequenced workflow steps to guide them through every assignment. From navigating to scanning documents to updating trip statuses, everything they need is consolidated within one easy-to-use system.

Onboarding new drivers also becomes significantly easier. Instead of lengthy training sessions to use different apps, fleets can teach new hires to “tap to navigate, tap to arrive, scan, and move on.” The app’s design strikes the perfect balance between autonomy and accountability.

Moreover, communication becomes more efficient. Unlike traditional ELD systems that may offer limited messaging capabilities, Eleos provides multiple channels for drivers to connect directly with safety, maintenance, and operations teams, fostering a more engaged, confident, and satisfied workforce.

A Better Future for Fleets and Drivers

For fleet managers, investing in a custom mobile app platform like Eleos involves more than merely streamlining operations. It transforms the driver experience from confusion and frustration to clarity, control, and confidence.

By providing a unified toolset, fleets experience measurable improvements in driver productivity, data accuracy, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction. Despite fleet operations becoming increasingly complex, work is becoming easier for drivers employed by fleets that utilize custom mobile apps.

Are you ready to create a new driver and customer experience? Contact us to discover how a custom mobile app from Eleos can benefit you.

The post How Custom Mobile Apps Extend Fleet Mobility Beyond ELD Systems appeared first on Eleos.

About 14% of employed U.S. adults work from home. Remote work has many perks, but the drawbacks include feeling isolated or “out of the loop.” Truck drivers can experience these downsides daily.

According to a November 2023 Drive My Way survey, drivers rank communication and “getting management to listen” second only to pay as their top reasons for changing jobs. Less experienced drivers—those in the industry for less than two years—are more sensitive to these issues. Only 40 percent of these respondents are satisfied with fleet communications, prompting 75% to seek new jobs within the last three months.

Truckload fleets can bridge the communication divide with drivers of all experience levels. One  effective strategy is deploying custom mobile apps that give drivers access to all the information and tools they need to do their jobs effectively and efficiently, inside and outside the cab.

Recently, Fraley and Schilling, a truckload fleet with more than 650 trucks and flatbed, dry van, tanker, and intermodal operations, transformed its driver experience with a mobile driver app.

“We’re adding automation to make work more transparent for drivers. We want them to be informed without needing to contact someone,” said Ryan Schilling, executive vice president of the Rushville, Ind.-based fleet. “We want to be there for drivers if they need us, but I am passionate about trying to automate as many things as possible.”

Fraley and Schilling’s greater transparency and automation for drivers and office staff is helping to maximize cost savings and revenue in a challenging freight market.

Moving Quickly

Fraley and Schilling sped development using a mobile driver app platform with pre-built components and integrations with its transportation management software (TMS) and ELD telematics, among other systems. The fully integrated workflow of the fleet’s Connect app allows drivers to plan trips quickly and accurately, capture documents, and complete arrival/departure forms, among other tasks.

The workflow prevents extra work by instantly validating the information drivers enter. For example, Fraley & Schilling’s has a simple form drivers use to “self-dispatch” loads when they arrive at specific customer locations for pickups after regular business hours.

Fraley and Schilling’s self-dispatch prompts drivers to enter a load reference number and assign themselves to loads in the company’s TMS. If they miss or incorrectly enter digits, the workflow says the load is “unavailable for self-dispatch” and asks the driver to verify the number and try again.

Simultaneously, the driver’s fleet manager gets an email to review the entry, determine why the load could not be self-dispatched, and proactively call or message the driver to resolve the issue.

Once a load is correctly entered, the app updates drivers’ arrivals and departures from customer locations in the fleet’s TMS, which then sends customers tracking information through EDI. Upon delivery, the driver scans the load’s paperwork, and the fleet immediately invoices the customer. 

The self-dispatching feature gives drivers complete control over the length of their workday within hours-of-service parameters. This allows drivers to pick up and deliver loads more efficiently and sometimes fit in an extra load to maximize revenue and earnings.

Fraley and Shilling’s Connect app also gives drivers more control over their pay by ensuring every load is accurately completed and accounted for.

Training on Demand

Greater transparency and automation removes uncertainty from drivers’ work. This also applies to training. If drivers have questions about load securement, equipment, safety, or other topics, they can immediately access training content through their fleet’s custom app.

When recruiting drivers, fleets can send new hires a link to download their apps before orientation meetings. From the app, drivers can access multi-media training content from learning management systems (LMS) and fleets’ media libraries to prepare for the job and set realistic expectations.

When newly hired drivers arrive for orientation, fleets can get them on the road the same or the next day, saving hotel costs and generating more revenue. While on the road, drivers continue to access information and training content about their equipment, safety policies, and other topics, keeping them connected and engaged.

The Keys to Transparency

Giving drivers a modern, remote office that includes wireless connectivity inside and outside the cab is essential to advance in this fast-moving industry. Many fleets are using easy-to-deploy custom apps to remove uncertainty from drivers’ workdays, allowing them to efficiently complete non-driving tasks like trip planning, communications, and training from anywhere.

Is your mobile strategy helping drivers maximize driving time and preventing costly errors that contribute to turnover? If not, perhaps now is a time to revisit options that will best meet your business and driver needs. By simplifying tasks and providing all the tools they need to do their jobs, you can return them to the road faster, generating higher revenue and retention.

Previously posted on FleetOwner.

The post Road to Retention: Custom Apps Accelerate Transparency in Trucking appeared first on Eleos.